Dell is continuing its efforts to cut costs and an Austin,
TX desktop manufacturing plant looks to be the latest victim. As is the case
with many U.S.-based companies these days, Dell will cut jobs and rely even
more on overseas manufacturing "to restore the competitive advantage of
the company’s operating model."

The Austin plant closure is a part of a five-point Dell
growth plan which will focus on global consumer, enterprise, notebooks, small
and medium enterprise and emerging countries. By removing the Austin plant from
its portfolio, Dell hopes to make a sizeable dent in the $3B in savings that it
hopes to realize over the next three years.

"We believe we have a $3 billion opportunity to drive
both productivity and efficiency," said Dell CEO Michael Dell. "We’ve
analyzed the business and opportunity, so we know -- without question -- where
our priorities should be. And as we’ve reignited growth in our business, we’re
taking deliberate steps across the company to improve our competitive
position."

Dell's insistence on reaching thing $3B figure will also
come at the expense of 8,800 jobs. This is in addition to the 3,200 employees
that were removed from the mix during fiscal 2008 -- 900 of which came as a
result of a Canadian
call center closure.

"We expect that these actions, along with the
continuing rigor we’re applying to operating expense control throughout our
operations, will result in an improved, world-class cost structure," added
Dell CFO Don Carty.

I have already seen pre-prod samples and they are quite snazzy and relatively light-weight compared to other similar products. I think when you see the features available, you'll be mildly surprised.

Also, they are supposed to drop for testing purposes in June/July, at least per their CFI people whom I work with. Ergo, I am not sure if it will slide to September, but I have a feeling that it may now be quite that long :)

There are definitely some things that the blackberry loving business travellers will CRAVE that no one else has.